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NFL Nation reporters predict 5-11 Bills

NFL Nation reporters do not foresee Rex Ryan winning much in his first season in Buffalo. AP Photo/Bill Wippert

Sharpen your pitchforks and light your torches, Buffalo Bills fans.

Our ESPN NFL Nation reporters weren't friendly to the Bills in their game-by-game predictions for the 2015 season, which were posted shortly after the schedule was released Tuesday night.

Collectively, only five of our reporters predicted that the teams they cover would lose to the Bills this season. That's a slight improvement over last season, when NFL Nation predicted the Bills would finish 3-13.

My game-by-game predictions are friendlier to Buffalo; I have the Bills finishing 9-7 with a shot to make the playoffs.

Let's break it all down:

Week 1 vs. Indianapolis Colts

My prediction: Colts win (0-1)

Mike Wells' prediction: Colts win (0-1)

Wells' comment: "The bad news for the Colts is that it’s Rex Ryan’s first game as coach of the Bills and they added running back LeSean McCoy. The good news for the Colts is that they don’t have to play in Buffalo in December. The other good news is that Buffalo’s quarterback situation is dicey."

Week 2 vs. New England Patriots

My prediction: Bills win (1-1)

Mike Reiss' prediction: Bills win (1-1)

Reiss' comment: "We’ve endured a tough winter here in New England, and this is a gift of sorts from the weather gods; Buffalo in September (and later, Miami in early January). The Bills will be coming off their season opener at home against the Colts, so first-year Bills coach Rex Ryan gets Andrew Luck and then Tom Brady to open his tenure. A "league source" said he was hoping for Jace Amaro instead, but he still smiles at the end of this one."

Week 3 at Miami Dolphins

My prediction: Dolphins win (1-2)

James Walker's prediction: Dolphins win (1-2)

Walker's comment: "The Dolphins will be motivated in their home opener and get to play a familiar face in former Miami starting tight end Charles Clay. Although Buffalo usually gives the Dolphins fits, look for Miami to ride the emotional wave to a victory."

Week 4 vs. New York Giants

My prediction: Bills win (2-2)

Dan Graziano's prediction: Bills win (2-2)

Graziano's comment: "The last time the Giants played in Buffalo was Dec. 23, 2007, when they clinched a playoff spot en route to their Super Bowl XLII title. The Giants got a scheduling break here, as their trip is early enough in the season that it won't be bitter cold there yet. (Unlike the trip to Minneapolis you'll see below.) The Buffalo Bills also have a new head coach, and it's one with whom the Giants are extremely familiar. Rex Ryan will have his pass rush ready to get after Eli Manning, and the Giants will be disappointed to see old nemesis LeSean McCoy even before they see his former team."

Week 5 at Tennessee Titans

My prediction: Bills win (3-2)

Paul Kuharsky's prediction: Bills win (3-2)

Kuharsky's comment: "The Titans have had some good games defensively, but Rex Ryan’s defense is in full swing. A battle of two questionable offenses tips in favor of the team with a marquee running back."

Week 6 vs. Cincinnati Bengals

My prediction: Bengals win (3-3)

Coley Harvey's prediction: Bengals win (3-3)

Harvey's comment: "Cincinnati's last two games against Buffalo have been decided by three points, and it's hard seeing this one going any differently considering the Bills upgraded an already good defense in the offseason. It will be interesting to see what new Bills head coach Rex Ryan, a friend to Lewis and defensive savant, does at quarterback where the leash is shortening on EJ Manuel. It may not take a Mike Nugent overtime field goal to decide this one, but it'll still be close."

Week 7 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (in London)

My prediction: Bills win (4-3)

Michael DiRocco's prediction: Jaguars win (3-4)

DiRocco's comment: "Bills GM Doug Whaley said this is a make-or-break season for quarterback EJ Manuel. He could be on the bench and Matt Cassel could be taking snaps by this point. Either way, it’s a good matchup for the Jaguars."

Week 9 vs. Miami Dolphins

My prediction: Bills win (5-3)

Walker's prediction: Bills win (4-4)

Walker's comment: "The weather starts to become a factor for Buffalo in November. The Dolphins fail to get the season sweep over the Bills."

Week 10 at New York Jets

My prediction: Jets win (5-4)

Rich Cimini's prediction: Bills win (5-4)

Cimini's comment: "For six years, the Jets tried to back up Rex Ryan's often outrageous boasts, failing more often than not in recent seasons. Now we'll get a chance to see how the Jets respond when they're on the receiving end of the trash talk. Watch your back, Jace Amaro."

Week 11 at New England Patriots

My prediction: Patriots win (5-5)

Reiss' prediction: Patriots win (5-5)

Reiss' comment: "The Bills will have a few extra days to prepare after playing a Thursday game the week before. This will be their first Monday night game since the 2009 opener against the Patriots, a 25-24 loss. This one will also be close, but Leodis McKelvin will fumble away a late kickoff return, the Patriots will recover, and score late for the victory. Why wouldn’t something like that happen?"

Week 12 at Kansas City Chiefs

My prediction: Chiefs win (5-6)

Adam Teicher's prediction: Chiefs win (5-6)

Teicher's comment: "The Chiefs will welcome back their former starting quarterback, Matt Cassel, now with the Bills. Things won’t go much better for him."

Week 13 vs. Houston Texans

My prediction: Bills win (6-6)

Tania Ganguli's prediction: Texans win (5-7)

Ganguli's comment: "This game will be unpleasant because it's cold, but the Bills haven't solved their quarterback problem yet -- a problem highlighted in their 2014 loss to the Texans. Watt absolutely terrorized then-Bills quarterback EJ Manuel and the only real upgrade the Bills made to their offensive line was the addition of Richie Incognito. Watt will get another safety."

Week 14 at Philadelphia Eagles

My prediction: Eagles win (6-7)

Phil Sheridan's prediction: Eagles win (5-8)

Sheridan's comment: "There will be some stories about LeSean McCoy in the buildup to this game. The Bills' defense will be interesting to watch working against Chip Kelly’s offense, but it’s still hard to picture the Bills winning."

Week 15 at Washington Redskins

My prediction: Bills win (7-7)

John Keim's prediction: Redskins win (5-9)

Keim's prediction: "The home finale is against another foe that will be one of the more intriguing teams with a new coach and a star runner in LeSean McCoy. The Bills should have an outstanding defense (again), but the Redskins’ defense should fare well in this matchup."

Week 16 vs. Dallas Cowboys

My prediction: Bills win (8-7)

Todd Archer's prediction: Cowboys win (5-10)

Archer's prediction: "How much snow will be on the ground? It won’t matter. The Cowboys are built to win on the ground and will be able to control the game. Tony Romo had five picks in his last trip to Ralph Wilson Stadium, but they still won."

Week 17 vs. New York Jets

My prediction: Bills win (9-7)

Cimini's prediction: Jets win (5-11)

Cimini's comment: "Amaro catches the winning touchdown pass in the final minute, costing the Bills a wild-card spot. Ryan fires his headset into the ground and later remarks, "I wanted to kick their a--, and they kicked mine." He responds by abolishing team captains for 2016."